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Bowling Green Farm, (non-working), is located in the heart of Dorset’s lovely Blackmore Vale within its own 8 acres of grassland surrounding this very pleasant bungalow and converted farm building into self-catering holiday cottages. Ideally situated for those 'get away from it all holidays', away from the 'madding crowds', noisy towns and cities into the peace and quiet of the Blackmore Vale here in Dorset. The ancient town of Shaftesbury is just 3 miles or so north of East Orchard. Shaftesbury sits on top of a hill overlooking the Blackmore Vale and grew up around a nunnery built in 880 AD of which the Abbey ruins are open to the public. Today, Shaftesbury is probably more famous for its Gold Hill, made widely known by the Hovis bread advert on television, you know, the advert with the bread delivery boy pushing his bike up the cobbled hill. Most people thought the film was made in Yorkshire or Lancashire, well now you know different. Gillingham, with a hard ‘G’, is the fastest growing town in Dorset because of its commuter facilities, is about 15 minutes drive from here. There is a main line railway station with fast trains to and from Exeter and Waterloo every hour and twenty minutes. Waterloo is about 2 hrs 20 mins, with only 5 stops. Stourhead is about 20 minutes drive from here approximately 2 - 3 miles north west of Mere. A magnificent country house and grounds which are run by the National Trust. There you can enjoy the lovely gardens and the Temples by the lakeside. The gardens are at their best and especially beautiful during the months of May and June when the rhododendrons are in full bloom. Due to our central location you can make worthwhile visits to such places as Milton Abbas village where all the houses wear thatched roofs and the Milton Abbey school which is situated in the Abbey. Kingston Lacey house and Badbury Rings close by, Wareham, Corfe Castle and Swanage, then swing around to Lulworth Cove and walk up the cliff to see the famous Durdle Door on the coastline, are all places worth visiting. The county town of Dorchester with its well known Dinosaur museum and the Tutankhamen exhibition. From there a visit to Weymouth and Portland Bill for a magnificent view of the Chesil Beach and the Dorset coast line with its cliffs in splendid panorama. Bournemouth and Poole, just a 40 minute drive will bring you to their fine shops, restaurants, cinemas, theatres and the Tower Park complex with its 10 Pin Bowling Lanes (36 lanes), and Splash Pool. Also in the complex you will find a 10 screen Cinema and the largest Disco Nightclub in the country with well known DJs hosting on most nights. Then there is the fine beach, the cleanest in the UK, which runs from Bournemouth to Poole Harbour entrance. However, for those who prefer to be away from the popular pier beach and its facilities there is Studland Bay, a beautiful sandy safe dean beach Within easy reach via a chain ferry which runs from Sandbanks on the Bournemouth side of Poole Harbour entrance. Alternatively you can reach Studland by a pleasant drive through Wareham and the historic village of Corfe Castle with its famous and spectacular ruins for all to see. Bath and Salisbury are two more famous and popular places to visit for a day each. Bath for its ever historic and world renown Roman Baths and Salisbury for its Cathedral which boasts the tallest spire in the Land. Both of these cities are within 45 minutes drive from us through beautiful countryside. Do not forget the Royal Naval Fleet Air Arm museum at Yeovilton. These are just a few of the places of interest all within easy reach of East Orchard. One must not forget the local places of interest just a few miles from here, the Georgian town of Blandford Forum, the working water mills at Sturminster Newton and Cann where they still mill corn for local bakeries to use in their bread making. There are also local facilities for swimming, squash, tennis, golf and keep fit sessions. |
